Tokyo Adventures Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we sat down with LaShawn Toyoda, creator of findadoc.jp, a website helping thousands in Japan gain access to life-saving Covid-19 vaccines. LaShawn originally moved to Japan in 2011 as an English teacher, but recently made the switch to software development. Shortly after landing her first dev job, she realized the foreign community here in Japan was struggling to find access to Covid-19 vaccines. Additionally, vaccines were going to waste, as many older individuals were canceling their vaccination appointments and their vaccines were being tossed out. With this in mind, she decided to create findadoc.jp for individuals to sign up for vaccine cancellation lists, which meant vaccines wouldn’t go waste and the community could find opportunities to be vaccinated. By the next morning, findadoc was being used by over 60,000 people all over Japan, and within 2 weeks the site had been used by millions. LaShawn is now working with a small group of skilled developers from industry leaders like Indeed, Amazon, Google, Mercari and many other companies to continually update and improve the site as it grows and evolves. She has since been interviewed by The Japan Times, Reuters, Tokyo Weekender and Unseen Japan. In addition, she has been invited to collaborate with universities and medical professionals as a result of incredible contribution. Findadoc.jp is an open source website, so all are welcome to contribute to the Github project! If you’re interested in donating to support the cause, send a ko-fi. You can follow LaShawn at: Twitter: theyokohamalife Her website: findadoc.jp Reach out to us with any questions, suggestions, or feedback at Tokyoadventures.com. Click the "Contact" tab to send us an email. We want to hear from you :] Follow us on the socials to be notified when new episodes are out! Instagram: @tokyoadventurespodcast Twitter: @podcasttokyo Our opening and closing music by @goodnightthesatellite - Supernova via @hellothematic

In this episode we sat down with Patrick Smith, aka The Paper Pat, to hear his story of living life abroad, teaching in Japan and China and his journey of becoming a social media influencer!  

Patrick is a teacher, model and famous Tiktoker who is currently living in Tokyo, Japan. He is most known for his fun, creative and wholesome skits featuring his many adventures as an educator to young students. He also LOVES to dance and share his daily life with his 1.4 million Tiktok followers and 186k Instagram followers

You can follow Patrick at:

Instagram: @the.paper.pat

TikTok: @thepaperpat

Youtube: thepaperpat

Reach out to us with any questions, suggestions, or feedback at Tokyoadventures.com. Click the "Contact" tab to send us an email. We want to hear from you :]

Follow us on the socials to be notified when new episodes are out!

Instagram: @tokyoadventurespodcast

Twitter: @podcasttokyo

Our opening and closing music by @goodnightthesatellite - Supernova via @hellothematic

In this episode, we discuss what it's like to bring pets to Japan/adopting pets in Japan. We also share our experience raising our two wild little Bengals, Momo and Nova. Being a pet owner in Japan comes with some unique challenges, so we hope the information we provided will better prepare you for pet ownership in Japan. In the end, it's absolutely worth it! 

Adopt, don't shop (when possible)! Please spay and neuter.

Quality cat food subscription shipped in Japan: Ronnie 

Momo and Nova Instagram: @momoandnova

Reach out to us with any questions, suggestions, or feedback at tokyoadventurespodcast@gmail.com. We want to hear from you :)

Follow us on the socials to be notified when new episodes are out!

Instagram: @tokyoadventurespodcast

Twitter: @podcasttokyo

Our opening and closing music by @goodnightthesatellite - Supernova via @hellothematic

A few weeks back, we set out on an adventure to hike the beautiful Mount Takao! Located within Tokyo, Mount Takao has many trails for hikers of all skill levels. 

In this episode, we share our experience hiking on a few different trails and provide some useful information and tips for your visit. If you're bored of sitting on the couch watching Netflix or could use some exercise, then Mt. Takao may be just what you need! Feel free to bring your friends along, so you can finally have some human interaction. :) Safe travels!

Reach out to us with any questions, suggestions, or feedback at Tokyoadventures.com. Click the "Contact" tab to send us an email. We want to hear from you :]

Follow us on the socials to be notified when new episodes are out!

Instagram: @tokyoadventurespodcast

Twitter: @podcasttokyo

Our opening and closing music by @goodnightthesatellite - Supernova via @hellothematic

We're back! Today we are discussing what we've been up to these past 3 months, how the world has changed since our last podcast and how we've been surviving quarantine. This episode is a bit longer than expected, but we wanted to get you up to speed on everything Japan life during rona. We will be updating semi-regularly now that our new equipment is in, but Covid-19 does limit how much we can "adventure". We promise it wont be 3 months though :]

Reach out to us with any questions, suggestions, or feedback at Tokyoadventures.com. Click the "Contact" tab to send us an email. We want to hear from you :]

Follow us on the socials to be notified when new episodes are out!

Instagram: @tokyoadventurespodcast

Twitter: @podcasttokyo

Our opening and closing music by @goodnightthesatellite - Supernova via @hellothematic

Welcome back Adventurers!  Today we're discussing how the corona virus is affecting Japan from our perspective. We chat about the insane toilet paper hoarding, Jenn's first "Nihongo jouzu", Pokemon, and best practices for staying healthy if you choose to travel to Japan.  Here is the link for the website we use for Japan's current corona numbers: Corona Virus Live Updates 

Reach out to us with any questions, suggestions, or feedback at Tokyoadventures.com. Click the "Contact" tab to send us an email. We want to hear from you :]

Follow us on the socials to be notified when new episodes are out!

Instagram: @tokyoadventurespodcast

Twitter: @podcasttokyo

Our opening and closing music by @goodnightthesatellite - Supernova via @hellothematic

Hello Adventurers! This is our very first episode for the Tokyo Adventures Podcast. (woot!) We briefly discussed Jenny's history of podcast love, planning our own podcast, our experience as foreigners in Japan so far, and what our future plans are for the podcast.  

Reach out to us with any questions, suggestions, or feedback at Tokyoadventures.com. Click the "Contact" tab to send us an email. We want to hear from you :]

Follow us on the socials to be notified when new episodes are out! 

Instagram: @tokyoadventurespodcast  

Twitter: @podcasttokyo  

Our opening and closing music by @goodnightthesatellite - Supernova via @hellothematic

🎉 We’re back, finally! 🎉 

Today’s episode will be part 3 of our Starting Your Life in Japan series, The Process of Moving To Japan. This episode is a deep dive into all of the steps you will take during your relocation to Japan. We share our experience from offer letter to arrival to provide valuable tips and recommendations, so you’ll feel more prepared for the big move.

**If you have pets, start on the pet relocation process at least 8-9 months before your move.**

1-3 months before your move:

1. Get job offer

2. Make sure you have a valid passport

3. Get your work visa (watch those timelines)

4. Set up your flights

5. Figure out your money. Create budgets and confirm relocation package with your company. (Keep them receipts!)

6. Figure out where you will be living until you get your permanent apartment/home. You will need this info for visa and residency paperwork.

7. Sell/get rid of everything you don't need

8. Buy essential items that are not readily available in Japan. Websites for price comparisons:Yodobashi, Bic Camera

9. Have your stuff packed and shipped to Japan

10. Consider keeping a phone number open from your home country for emergencies

11. Get an international credit card, because you can't get one for awhile in Japan (look for no international purchasing fees)

12. Close all old accounts/memberships

13. Update drivers license/passport/credit cards to avoid future issues

14. Refill prescriptions and confirm your prescriptions are ok to bring to Japan

15. Make time to visit with friends/family before you leave

Before you fly:

1. Make sure you have your passport and all required documentation (at least 5 copies of all)

2. Convert your currency to yen. We recommend having a few hundred on hand

3. Relax and try to change your sleep schedule

When you land:

1. Get yourself ready for your resident card photo. You'll have it for years!

2. Go through immigration

3. Get your resident card

4. Go to the customs shipment counter to declare items shipped from your country

5. Enter Japan! Woot!

6. Immediately go buy a train/Shinkansen ticket into Tokyo

7. Set up and add money to your suica or pasmo transit card

8. Travel from airport to housing

9. Drop off your stuff

10. Get food and hydrate

11. Go buy toiletries and necessities

12. Get some rest

First week:

1. Go to the local ward office to register your address. Set up your My Number card, too!

2. Set up phone, internet, utilities and bank account

3. Get to know your neighborhood

4. Start looking for a permanent place if you're in a temp spot

5. Buy furniture and appliances

6. Enjoy your new life in Japan :]

Still have questions about moving to Japan? Reach out to us with any questions, suggestions, or feedback at Tokyoadventures.com. Click the "Contact" tab to send us an email. We want to hear from you :]

Follow us on the socials to be notified when new episodes are out!

Instagram: @tokyoadventurespodcast

Twitter: @podcasttokyo

Our opening and closing music by @goodnightthesatellite - Supernova via @hellothematic

Today we are discussing the cost of living in Japan, part two of our mini series, Starting Your life in Japan!

Money is one of the major make or breaks when deciding if moving to Japan is right for you. There are so many unknowns when it comes to gauging the cost of living in a new country, and information is not always readily available about day to day expenses. In this episode, we cover as many areas of expense as we could think of and then some. We also provide tons of time saving tips, recommendations and ways to save money each month.

Sony Bank referral code (you get $10 free):

R162702 - Place this code in the reception number box

Revolut account referral link (campaign offers vary throughout the year): https://revolut.com/referral/philipar2r

TransferWise referral link (discount on your first transfer): https://transferwise.com/invite/i/philipe184

Still have questions about the cost of living in Japan? Reach out to us with any questions, suggestions, or feedback at Tokyoadventures.com. Click the "Contact" tab to send us an email. We want to hear from you :]

Follow us on the socials to be notified when new episodes are out!

Instagram: @tokyoadventurespodcast

Twitter: @podcasttokyo

Our opening and closing music by @goodnightthesatellite - Supernova via @hellothematic